Chapter 258: Four Trainers, Four Paths

The battlefield lay in ruins, the ground cracked and shattered from Hatterene's Max Mindstorm. In the center, the now-shrunken Toxtricity lay unconscious.

For a long moment, the three other trainers stood in stunned silence.

Warden sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. As he flicked it against his Talonflame's wing, a tiny ember sparked from its feathers, lighting the tip. Taking a deep drag, he exhaled a plume of smoke, seemingly trying to steady his nerves.

"...Damn, kid. You're strong," he finally muttered.

Summer smiled lightly. "My Pokémon are reliable, that's all."

"Hat~"

Hatterene, now back to her regular size, wrapped one of her long arms around Summer's shoulder, rubbing against his cheek affectionately.

She was clearly pleased with the praise, though she couldn't help but feel a little unsatisfied. Why did that battle end so fast? She didn't even get to try out her G-Max Smite...

Teven, adjusting his scarf, observed the scene with mild surprise. "I've never seen a Hatterene that… affectionate before. No offense, but that's pretty unusual."

Summer chuckled. "You're not the first person to say that."

Hatterene were notorious for their reclusive and aggressive nature. They despised loud noises and intrusions, typically dealing with unwanted visitors by stunning them with a powerful blast of psychic energy before finishing them off with their claws.

Experienced travelers knew that if they ever found themselves in an eerily silent forest, it was best to turn around immediately—chances were, they had entered a Hatterene's territory.

For a Pokémon like that to be openly affectionate toward its trainer? That was far from ordinary.

Then, Raika suddenly spoke up.

"Summer… are you from Galar?"

"More or less," he replied, sensing that her question had a deeper meaning.

She frowned slightly, fingers running through Noivern's fluffy fur as if in thought. "Strange. I don't remember seeing you in any previous Gym Challenges. A trainer as strong as you would've made waves immediately. I would definitely remember."

"Maybe he started training later?" Teven suggested.

"No, I never participated in the Gym Challenge," Summer said plainly.

Warden nearly choked on his cigarette. "Are you serious?!"

Even Teven looked surprised.

"Kid, do you know how much money Gym Challengers make? Even if you're only half-decent, sponsorships will be all over you. A guy like you would be drowning in offers!"

"Not everyone is in it for money, Warden," Teven chuckled. "If it weren't for my job, I'd rather be living a peaceful life by the sea."

"Then why the hell did you pick Ice-types?" Warden snorted.

"Because I love the ocean but hate hot weather," Teven said with a smirk.

"You… I swear, man. Whatever." Warden shook his head before turning back to Summer. "But seriously, no regrets? You could've easily made it to the Champion's Cup, you know."

Summer only smiled. He had already come to terms with his path, and he agreed with what Leon had told him before—anyone who lived alongside Pokémon and shared a bond with them was a trainer, regardless of titles or competitions.

Seeing that Summer was unfazed, Raika fell silent. She had been expecting a different answer.

Meanwhile, Warden stretched his arms and cracked his neck. "Well, since the kid finished the job in one move, we might as well head back. The passengers are probably worried sick—especially that cowardly cop."

Everyone, including Summer, agreed.

Once again, they relied on Hatterene's Psychic to return swiftly to the train.

As they floated through the air, Warden stared up at the sky, chuckling to himself. "Man, I can't help but be jealous of you, Summer. Someone like you probably doesn't even have to think about money. Meanwhile, we're all stuck working just to get by."

Then, out of nowhere, Teven said, "I think I'll quit after this job."

Warden blinked. "...What?"

Teven smiled. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. I want to live somewhere quiet, maybe near the ocean."

Warden was silent for a moment before letting out a loud laugh. "You know what? Screw it. I'm coming with you!"

Teven raised an eyebrow. "Do you have the money for that?"

"...Hey, don't ruin the moment, alright?" Warden grinned. "Sometimes, you just gotta take a leap of faith, man!"

He clenched his fist in determination. This was it—the push he needed.

Their company had been acting strange lately. Their boss had been in a terrible mood. And with all the weird incidents happening across Galar, Warden had a bad feeling about what was coming.

Maybe it was time to get out while he still could.

When the train finally resumed its journey, the passengers breathed a collective sigh of relief. Many of them glanced at Summer, whispering amongst themselves.

Would they see him in future battles? Would he compete in the Champion's Cup?

But Summer didn't pay them any mind. He simply closed his eyes, resting for the next leg of his journey.

Before parting ways, the railway company had offered the trainers their reward: a year of free train tickets, followed by three years of half-price fares.

Warden had sighed dramatically. He was really hoping for a cash payout.

Still, before they left, he had insisted that they exchange contact information. "You're a good kid, Summer. Gotta keep in touch with talent like you."

Summer saw no reason to refuse, so he agreed.

Raika, however, had coldly rejected the offer.

Her reason?

She didn't own a phone.

That had left Warden utterly speechless.

By the time the train reached Motostoke, Warden and Teven disembarked, leaving Summer to continue toward Postwick. Since Wedgehurst had no direct station, Postwick was the closest stop to Slumbering Weald.

Meanwhile, far away, a different train rumbled through the snow-covered mountains.

Inside, Raika sat alone in her compartment, quietly sealing a letter she had just written.

On the envelope, she had carefully signed her name: Raika Howard.

She stared out at the endless white peaks beyond the window, her voice barely above a whisper.

"...The Temple of Legends… said to seal away the Giant of Dragons and the Giant of Thunder. I hope our ancestors' records were accurate."

Then, her lips curled into a smirk.

"...Still, I never expected to meet such an interesting person on this journey. I wonder what he will think of Summer…"